

rBx ^ 

I.KV3F7 



JEHOVAH-JIKEH. 



A DISCOURSE 



COMMEMORATIVE OP THE 



TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY 

OP THE ORGANIZATION OF THE 

FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 
DELIVERED ON SABBATH, 25th NOVEMBER, 1855, 



BY THE PASTOR, 

JOHN c/'SM I T H . 



WASHINGTON: 
THOS. McGILL, PRINTER. 
1855. 



Washington, 28th November, 1855. 
TO THE FOURTH CHURCH: 

My Dear Brethren : 

The request made by your Committee for a copy of 
the Anniversary Discourse for publication was complied 
with, because we. all think that the facts should be 
placed on permanent record, and in a convenient form, 
as so many beautiful and striking illustrations of the 
divine faithfulness. 

The Discourse was prepared for you, that in it your 
children may read the goodness of the Lord to their 
fathers, as you have seen it manifested to yours — hence 
" names " are carefully given. These are our family 
jewels, over which we have joy with which strangers 
may not meddle. These may not appreciate the Discourse 
as you have. — Parents, by common consent, are allowed 
to esteem all their children as intelligent, beautiful, and 
good. 

Affectionately, 

JOHN C. SMITH. 



DISCOURSE. 



"AND I WILL BRING THE BLIND BY A WAY THAT THEY KNEW 
NOT ; I WILL LEAD THEM IN PATHS THAT THEY HAVE 
NOT KNOWN : I WILL MAKE DARKNESS LIGHT BEFORE THEM, 
AND CROOKED THINGS STRAIGHT. THESE THINGS WILL I DO 
UNTO THEM, AND NOT FORSAKE THEBI." haitth, XLII., 16. 

This promise, always precious because always 
divine, has peculiar significance and value in the 
circumstances in which the providences of God 
sometimes place His children. In these they 
prove the divine faithfulness, and are made to 
rejoice in their experience of the power and love 
of Jehovah. 

In the organization of this church I do not 
know that the "little flock" had any special 
reference to this passage, or that it was brought 
directly before their minds ; but of one thing we 
are certain, and that one thing is, that they acted 



6 



THE OCCASION. 



in the spirit of this promise, and went forward in 
the strength of Him whose words these are. And 
now, after twenty-seven years, we meet on this 
Sabbath to commemorate the day of organization, 
and to pour ont our hearts of gratitude and praise 
to Him whose power and grace have been so 
manifest in the past. What was promise then, is 
fulfilment now. We rejoice over the fulfilment, 
and hold the promise sacred for all future time. 

In the year 1828, the Second Presbyterian 
Church in this city became vacant by the resigna- 
tion of Rev. Daniel Baker, who had for years 
been their much-loved and efficient Pastor. He 
left them to enter upon a pastorate in Savannah, 
Georgia. His place could not easily be filled, and 
for the reason that a large number of the church 
wanted a man of kindred spirit and zeal for the 
cause of Christ, which was not the desire of the 
whole church. It soon became apparent that 
difficulties would arise when the time for an elec- 
tion would come. After hearing several candi- 
dates, it was announced that an election for a 
Pastor would take place on a certain day. It 
came. The candidates were Revs. John N. Camp- 



EARLY RECORDS. 



bell, Danforth, and Laird. The friends of Rev. 
Joshua N. Danforth were in a minority, and 
complained that they had not been fairly dealt 
with ; and consequently they determined to hold 
some meetings for prayer and consultation, and 
in these decide as to their future course. The 
attention of the public was called to the purpose 
they had formed, by a notice which appeared in 
the National Intelligencer, of 29th October, 1828, 
in the following words : 

" Church ! Church ! — A meeting of the friends of 
the Rev'd J. N. Danforth, of the Presbyterian denomi- 
nation, are requested to meet this evening at the house 
of Jacob Gideon, on 7th street, to adopt measures for 
the formation of a new congregation. 

" October 29/' 

Agreeably to notice the meeting was held, and 
we furnish the record from a book kept by the 
trustees : 

"At a meeting held at the residence of Mr. Jacob 

Gideon, on the , the object of which was to 

form a congregation of the Bev. Mr. Danforth, the 
following persons being present, viz : Bridgett Wilson, 
Eliza Ann Waller, David M. Wilson, Sarah Bromley, 
Stephen Phillips, J onathan Phillips, Henrietta Phillips, 
Patrick Crowley, Mary Gideon, Julia Ann Crowley, 



8 



EARLY RECORDS. 



Bosanna D. Coons, Jacob Gideon, jr., Catharine Coons, 
Barbary Hoover, Abigail Barnhill, Gabriel Barnhill, 
Simeon Bassett, Thomas Bobinson, Margaret Bobin- 
son, Elizabeth Dennesson, Ellen Dougherty, 0. V. Hill, 
James Towles, "William Eorce, Anthony Preston, Mary 
Preston, Mrs. Bosworth, Ann Gilman, Samuel Finley 
and wife, Charlotte Bassett, Lewis Clephane, and Sarah 
Gibson. 

" On motion, the sense of the meeting was taken on 
the propriety of forming a congregation, when it was 
unanimously agreed to. 

"A petition was drawn up and signed by twenty 
communicants, requesting the elders of the Second 
Presbyterian Church that they might be furnished with 
the individual certificates. 

"A committee of three was appointed to wait on the 
Bev. Mr. Banforth, and to inform him of the favorable 
feelings of this meeting, and of their desire to raise a 
congregation for him, the committee to consist of Mr. 
D. M. Wilson, Mr. J. Gideon, and Mr. A. Preston. 

11 When the meeting adjourned/' 

"November 4, 1828. 

"An adjourned meeting assembled at Mr. Gideon's, 
for the purpose of considering the propriety of forming 
a Central Presbyterian Church, when Mr. Wilson stated 
the substance of sundry consultations which he had 
had with se\$ral members of the Second Presbyterian 
Church, and which resulted in their entire acquies- 
cence in our withdrawal. 



EARLY RECORDS. 



9 



"On motion, it was unanimously 

" Resolved j That the congregation be denominated 
the Central Presbyterian Society of "Washington. 

" On motion, it was unanimously 

"Resolved, That the Rev. Mr. Danforth be invited 
to take charge of the congregation. 

" Mr. Wilson read a letter addressed to the Rev. Mr. 
Danforth, the substance of which met with unanimous 
approval." 

"Monday, Nov. 24, 1828. 
" Meeting of the members of the Central Presbyterian 
Church, held at the house of Jacob Gideon, jr. 
" On motion of Mr. Barnhill — 

" Resolved, That this meeting proceed to nominate 
trustees. 

" Messrs. A. J. Stansbury, J. Gideon, jr., Anthony 
Preston, and Jonathan Phillips were nominated; and the 
question being put, they were unanimously elected." 

The following minute is taken from the records 

of "the session," which records are reviewed 

annually by a committee of Presbytery, appointed 

for that purpose. It is the first in the book, and 

is as follows : 

" Washington City, 

Monday, Nov. 24, 1828. 
"A meeting of that portion of the Second Presby- 
terian Church of Washington whose relation to that 
church has recently been dissolved by certificates 



10 



EARLY RECORDS. 



granted by its session, was held at the house of Jacob 
Gideon, jr. 

" Opened with prayer by Rev. J. N. Danforth. 
" On motion — 

"Resolved, That this meeting do now form itself, by 
voluntary association, into a particular church, for the 
worship of God and the enjoyment of His word and 
ordinances. 

"On motion, it was further unanimously 

"Resolved, That whereas, according to the 4th sec- 
tion of the second chapter of the Constitution of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States, the submis- 
sion to a due form of government is neceessary to con- 
stitute a particular church, we will now proceed to the 
election of a ruling elder. 

"Mr. David M. Wilson was thereupon chosen to 
that office." 

Xow we go back to the records of trustees. 

" The Board of Trustees met at the house of Jacob 
Gideon, on Wednesday, November 26, 1828. Meeting 
opened with prayer. 

" Present, Messrs. Gideon, Preston, Phillips, and 
Stansbury. 

" On motion of Mr. Gideon — 

"Resolved, That Mr. Stansbury act as President of 
this Board, and also take charge of the minutes. 

" On motion of Mr. Preston — 

"Resolved, That Mr. Gideon act as Treasurer of this 
Board. 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DANFORTH. 



11 



" Resolved, That proposals be issued for the erection 
of a frame building of one story high, fifteen feet to 
the eaves and forty by fifty feet in dimensions, without 
seats or chimneys ; the walls to be plastered, to rest on 
brick piers, and capable of being moved. 

"Resolved, That proposals be invited from Messrs. 
W. S. Drummond, Jacob Swimley, Wood & Bryan, 
Nathan Smith, and Mr. Homans. 

"Resolved, That in the proposals the builder be 
bound to complete the building by the 15th day of 
January next. 

"Resolved, That Mr. Stansbury draft a circular let- 
ter to the Presbyterian Churches in the United States, 
stating our situation and prospects, and inviting con- 
tributions to our aid; and that the Eev. Mr. Danforth 
be invited to sign such letter in conjunction with the 
Board." 

" November 29, 1828. 
"The Board met. Proposals received from three 
builders, and the work was given to Mr. Jacob Swim- 
ley." 

The admission of the newly-organized church 
into the Presbytery of the District of Columbia 
will be understood by the following extract from 
the records : 

" In Presbytery, Georgetown, 27th January, 1829 — 
" Mr. Jacob Grideon appeared as a commissioner on 
the part of certain individuals worshipping together in the 
city of Washington, with their petition to be received 



12 



MINISTRY OF KEV. J. >'. PAMOSIK. 



under the care of this Presbytery as a Presbyterian 

congregation. 

" The petition was read. Whereupon it was 

"II -:$■:■ 7. That the prayer of the petitioners to be 

received as a church and congregation under the care 

of this Presbytery, be and it hereby is granted, and 

they are received accordingly. 

'•JR-:s :' .--.v. That said church be denominated the 

' Fourth Presbyterian Church in the City of Washing- 
ton,' according to their own request. 

Resolved, (also according to their own request. N > 

That they be permitted to employ the Eev. Joshua X. 

Panforth as their supply till the next stated meeting 

of Presbytery." 

The new cimrcli edifice, built as per the plan 
indicated, on the lot purchased of General John 
P. Van Xess, and directly opposite this, our pres- 
ent bouse of worship, was dedicated to Jehovah, 
and for his worship and service, on Sabbath, 
1st of March, 1S-9, in the presence of an intelli- 
gent, crowded, and delighted audience. The 
sermon was preached by Rev. John Breckenridge, 
of Kentucky, a gifted and eloquent man of God — 
a man to whom I was bound by strong ties of 
respect and affection : my friend before I was 
licensed to preach, and from whom I learned 



MINISTRY OF REY. J. N. DANFORTH. 



13 



many things in my intercourse most valuable to 
me in my ministry. His piety and zeal were 
remarkable, as I knew him Pastor of the Second 
Church, Baltimore. In his example, as I bowed 
with him in his study, I was taught that a man 
was never fit to preach until, in secret, he sought 
the presence and aid of the Preacher of all 
preachers. However delinquent in other respects, 
I thank God that in this I have been conscien- 
tious and careful, and associate this duty with this 
servant, who, several years since, entered into 
his rest. 

[EXTRACTS FROM TRUSTEES' RECORD.] 

"March -13, 1829. 
" The Board met at the house of Mr. Gideon. 
Meeting opened with prayer. Present : Mr. Stansbury, 
chairman, Mr. Gideon and Mr. Preston. 

"Resolved, That it is expedient that the number of 
this Board should be increased. 

" Resolved, That one more member be added. 
" An election being held for the above purpose, Mr. 
John B. Nourse was unanimously chosen. 

" Ordered, That Mr. Gideon be a committee to in- 
form Mr. Nourse of his election." 

" March 21, 1829. 
"The Board met at the house of Mr. Gideon. 



14 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DANFORTH. 



Meeting opened with prayer. Present : Mr. Stans- 
bury, Mr. Gideon, Mr. Preston, and Mr. Nourse, 
(elected at last meeting.) 

" On motion — 

" Resolved, That Messrs. Grideon and Preston he a 
committee to procure, on the best practicable terms, the 
materials and workmanship for the erection of chimneys 
in the church ; and also to superintend the location 
and erection thereof. 

* * % * * * * jjT^ * 

" Ordered, That the chairman address a letter of 
thanks to Mr. Zachariah D. Brashears, thanking him for 
the use of his school-house gratuitously loaned by him 
for the use of the congregation, and request leave to 
have it cleansed and whitewashed, at the expense of 
the Board/' 

"May 6, 1829. 
" Mr. Patrick Crowley was elected to fill the vacancy 
occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Phillips." 

"June 11, 1829. 

"The Board met at the church. Meeting opened 
with prayer. All present excepting Mr. Nourse. 

" Mr. Crowley, who was elected at the last meeting 
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. 
Phillips, appeared and took his seat with the Board. 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DANFORTH. 



15 



" The account of Mr. Swimley, the builder of the 
church, was closed by notes of the following description : 
one note for $400, at twelve months; one for $150, 
one for $100, and one for $100 — all drawn, at 18 
months, by J. Gideon, jr., as Treasurer of the Board of 
Trustees, and endorsed by the trustees individually ; 
the notes dated 20th May, 1829. And the Board 
adjourned." 

The first and largest of these notes was pro- 
vided for in a successful appeal and effort made at 
the time of its maturity by Messrs. Gideon and 
Preston ; a large portion of the amount needed 
was contributed by persons on " The Island." 

Thus, we have seen the moving and the gather- 
ing of the little band in Mr. Gideon's house, on 
Seventh street, and have traced their path up 
to Mr. Brashears' school-house, on southeast cor- 
ner of Ninth and H streets, where they assembled 
for public worship on 16th November, 1828 ; and 
where Bev. J. N. Danforth, the man of their 
choice, their Moses, preached his first sermon in 
their new arrangements. We have gone with 
them into the Presbytery of the District of Co- 
lumbia, stood at the side of their commissioner 
w T hile their petition for admission was read, and 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DANFORTH. 



heard the vote, and saw enrolled upon the records 
the name, " Fourth Presbyterian Church of the 
City of Washington." We have mingled in the 
services in the school-house, and witnessed the 
power and grace of God, until the new house was 
done ; and then, going with the admiring, grate- 
ful throng, have joined in the hosannas to the Son 
of David, and devoutly rendered thanks to Him 
who hath said : " This is my rest for ever ; here 
will I dwell, for I have desired it." 

Now, let us walk about Zion, and go round 
about her, that we may tell it to the generation 
following ; for this God is our God for ever and 
ever : He will be our guide even unto death. 

Washington city, in 1828, was very different 
from Washington city on this Sabbath of God, 
in 1855 ; the number of churches, population, and 
resources of the city are increased more than 
threefold — a much larger increase in this locality 
than threefold. At the date of the organization, 
the streets here were not paved, not even graded ; 
the houses very few and widely scattered, and 
the people in the neighborhood in very moderate 
circumstances. Access to the place of worship 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DANFORTH. 



17 



was very difficult and toilsome, and in the night j 
(without lamps, as were the streets) attended with 
no little danger. 

The enterprise of forming a new church and 
sustaining the Gospel of Jesus Christ, by such a 
small band, was, with many, very doubtful of j 
success. The day was dark, and friends were j 
few. No help could be expected from the church 
of the exodus. Others could not tell to what these i 
things might grow, and the people that had turned j 
things upside down might possibly come among 
them. Great care was necessary ; and an invest- 
ment in this direction would probably not pay. 
Calculations as to probabilities were made, and, i 
on the whole, it was deemed best to stand aloof. 
Prophets were in those days : "It will come to 
nought," said they; but God was in it, and man 
could not overthrow it. 

While many were indulging in these speculations 
the infant church were wrestling before God in 
secret and in their families. Prayer meetings j 
were held all round about. A female prayer 
meeting was begun in the house of Mr. Jacob 
Gideon, by his devoted wife, our mother in Israel, 



18 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DAXFORTH. 



and was regularly held there every week, till her 
death, 5th August, 1853. It is now held in the 
session-room. 

The services in the school-room of Mr. Bra- 
shears were attended in large numbers ; on Satur- 
day evenings the pulpit now kept in the back 
room of the basement was taken from the dwelling 
of Mr. Simeon Bassett, one of the original mem- 
bers, to the place of preaching, screwed down, 
used on the Sabbath, and then removed to Mr. 
Bassett's house, till again needed. 

The labors of Mr. Danforth were greatly 
blessed ; his preaching was in demonstration of 
the spirit and with power ; souls were converted, 
and the Lord added unto the church daily. The 
ordinances were dispensed; the word of the Lord 
had free course and was glorified ; so that, when 
the church edifice was ready, in a little more than 
three months after the organization, the number 
of communicants, with the original twenty-three, 
had increased to sixty-three — among whom were 
Jacob Gideon, jr., and Anthony Preston, who had 
rendered material, valuable, and efficient aid in 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DANFORTH. 



19 



the whole movement, though not in the beginning- 
professors of religion. 

It seemed to be one great protracted meeting. 
The people in their weakness and new circum- 
stances had been counselled and encouraged in 
their purposes from the beginning by that man of 
God, of apostolic zeal and energy, Rev. James 
Patterson, of Philadelphia, who at that time was 
laboring for a season in this city. In those clays 
the fire of the Lord fell ! and when all the people 
saw it, they fell on their faces, and said, " The 
Lord ! He is the God ! The Lord ! He is the 
God." 

While these dispensations of divine favor were 
full of encouragement, difficulties of a grave and 
serious nature had to be met. The Pastor's salary 
had to be paid ; the notes of the trustees (en- 
dorsed by them individually) were maturing ; 
the people were few, and none of them with 
much of this world's goods. The outside pres- 
sure was great indeed. The church never asked 
for or obtained aid from any missionary society. 
They assumed the support of the Pastor themselves, 
and met their obligations. Liberal hands were 



20 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DANFORTH. 



theirs, because their hearts were right, and they 
had a mind to the work. Help came in the hour 
of need ; engagements were met ; notes were 
paid ; and the Lord continued to bless and save 
in the means ordinary and extraordinary. 

Rev. Mr. Patterson again visited the city in 
1831, and preached for several weeks in this and 
the other Presbyterian churches. He was a man 
after God's own heart, and a man for the times. 
The people were with him, and went from house 
to house, from church to church. More than this, 
the Holy Spirit was poured out, and a large in- 
crease followed of those who confessed that Jesus 
was the Christ. By an arrangement made among 
the churches, at the close of Mr. Patterson's 
labors, a union communion was held in the First 
Presbyterian Church, on 8th May, 1831, and more 
than one hundred souls were added to the several 
Presbyterian churches, thirty-nine of whom were 
enrolled among us. Thus at different times God 
owned and blessed the enterprise. He put His 
seal on it, and the people asked no more. This 
baptism of the Holy Ghost gave a new impulse to 
the faith and prayers of the people. Zion sung, 



MINISTRY OF REV. J. N. DANFORTH. 



21 



" The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof 
we are glad." 

The ministry of Mr. Danforth continued till 
April, 1832, when he accepted an appointment 
from the Am. Col. Society for the New England 
States. During this period he received into the 
church 117, which, with the 23 original members, 
made the roll of communicants 140. Of these 
have died in twenty-seven years, 24 ; excommuni- 
cated, 16 ; dismissed, 67 ; now in communion, 
33 ; number of recorded baptisms in this period, 
45. 

The Rev. Thomas D. Anderson, now a very 
efficient and highly esteemed Pastor of the Bap- 
tist Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts, was re- 
ceived on profession during this ministry. 

As soon as Mr. Danforth had decided to remove? 
he mentioned the name of Rev. Mason Noble, 
a relative of his, and a young man of promise, who 
had been just ordained by the Presbytery of Troy, 
N. Y. He was invited to visit the church, which 
invitation he accepted, and came and preached. 
At this time the first difficulties had been all over- 
come, the house of worship paid for, and an encour- 



22 



REV. MASON NOBLE CALLED. 



aging congregation gathered. A good preparation, 
too, had been made during the ministry of his 
predecessor, and the field was most inviting to a 
young man of piety, talents, and zeal. These Mr. 
Noble possessed, and having been in seasons of 
revival under the ministry of Rev. Dr. N. S. S. 
Beman, had peculiar qualifications to labor among 
and with a church, which, from the beginning, 
gave themselves fully to the work, and whose 
constant prayer and efforts were for the rapid 
extension and spirituality of Christ's kingdom. 

Nor were the people slow in expressing their 
desires 1 to have Mr. Noble remain ; but no 
permanent arrangements for his settlement were 
made until the autumn. At a meeting of the 
Presbytery of the District of Columbia, held 9th 
October, 1832, a call was presented in the usual 
form to Rev. Mason Noble, which he accepted ; 
and 17th December, 1832, was appointed for his 
installation. The hour was 7 o'clock. In these 
services, Rev. James Laurie, D. D., presided, and 
proposed the usual questions ; Rev. J. C. Smith, 
then Pastor of Bridge street, Georgetown, preached 
the sermon ; Rev. Dr. Laurie delivered the charge 



MINISTRY OF REV. MASON NOBLE. 



23 



to the Pastor, and Rev. R. Post the charge to the 
people. 

Mr. Noble gave himself with great zeal and 
energy to his work. His labors were blessed. 
Several revivals of religion and in-gatherings of 
souls cheered his heart. The church grew in grace 
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ. The aged were brought in along 
with the young. Zion lengthened her cords, and 
strengthened her stakes. Constant attention was 
paid, as during the ministry of Mr. Danforth, to 
the Sabbath school. Prayer meetings were held, 
and the means varied so as to interest, instruct, 
and save men. Nor were these labors vain in the 
Lord, for He bestowed His grace ; souls were re- 
newed, and there were added in all one hundred and 
ninety-seven persons in these seven years : of 
whom three entered the ministry of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and were ordained and settled pastors over 
churches. Their names, "John H. Rittenhouse," 
"Thomas D. Hoover," " Isaac W. K. Handy." 
The first, a few years since, entered into his rest, 
and has received a prophet's reward ; the others 
continue until this present. In the late desolating 



MINISTRY OF SET. MASON NOBLE, 



pestilence in Portsmouth, Virginia, Mr. Handy, 
: though prostrated by the yellow fever, as also was 

< every member of his family, continued at his post, 

• and acquitted himself as a good soldier and faith- 
■ ful servant of Jesus Christ. 

Mr. Noble's ministry may be summed up thus : 
\ Number added, 197 ; of those thus received there 
\ have died, 28 ; excommunicated, 33 ; dismissed, to 
| join other churches, 95 ; now in communion, 41 ; 

< recorded baptisms, 94. 

It is proper to state, that in the number of 
excommunications given in this discourse are in- 

: eluded those who have removed from the city, 
beyond the reach of the session, without asking 

; for certificates of dismission, according to their 
covenant engagements in our printed form.* They 
are marked "covenant breakers," and dealt with 
accordingly. In all cases the session make dili- 

jj gent and faithful enquiry, and proceed to ulterior 

< measures only when they are fully satisfied in all 
j the particulars. 

Your present Pastor removed to Georgetown 
\ 2d May, 1832, a few weeks later than Mr. Noble 



* See Appendix. 



REV. JOHN C. SMITH CALLED. 



25 



came to this city ; and he takes great pleasure in 
bearing his testimony to the faithfulness with 
which his predecessor labored here in his Master's 
vineyard. He shared with him in many of those 
blessed scenes and seasons in which we toiled side 
by side for the salvation of the people. In the 
absence or sickness of Mr. Noble, he has some- 
times supplied his pulpit ; at others, buried the 
dead ; nor will the impressions of those deeply 
affecting and solemn occasions ever be erased. 

In July, 1839, Mr. Noble received a call to the 
city of New York, which he accepted, and removed 
from this city. 

The church was supplied, and well supplied, for 
a few months, by Rev. J. L. Bartlett, a devoted, 
godly man, and most acceptable preacher — his 
health always too delicate to allow him to assume 
the responsibilities and duties of a Pastor. 

On the 10th of September, 1839, a call was 
made out for Rev. John C. Smith of Georgetown, 
D. C. ; and at a meeting of Presbytery held the 
next day was presented and accepted. Presbytery 
appointed 27th September, half-past 7 o'clock, for 
the installation services. These services were 



26 



MINISTRY OF KEY. JOHX C. SMITH. 



rendered in the presence of a crowded congrega- 
tion, in the order prescribed by the Presbytery. 
Rev. William Hill, D. D., presided and proposed 
the constitutional questions ; Rev. A. D. Pollock 
preached (by request) the sermon ; Rev. "William 
McLain delivered the charge to the Pastor, and 
Rev. John Mines the charge to the people. 

These services were conducted in the house dedi- 
cated 1st March, 1829, where Rev. J. N. Dan. 
forth preached and labored so faithfully, and where 
he had seen the glory of God ; and where his 
youthful successor, with all his sanctified heart 
and spirit, had reaped a large harvest of souls. 
That house yet stands on the same spot, converted 
into two comfortable dwellings. 

Thus we are brought to a period in the history 
of these twenty-seven years, full of deep interest 
to him who has been your Pastor for more than 
sixteen years. They have been years of anxious, 
and to the praise of God I may say successful, toil. 
In the statement about to be made some may see 
in it a spirit of vanity and egotism, and nothing 
else. I will make the statement for " the judgment 
seat," and cannot be held responsible for the eyes, 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



27 



or ears, or tongues of others. A proper sense of 
my own unfaithfulness and unfitness, in many 
respects, for the great work to which I have been 
called here, will be sufficient to relieve every can- 
did mind from all apprehensions in the direction 
of egotism and vanity. " I speak as unto wise 
men: judge ye what I say." 

I met here a kind, cordial, and unanimous wel- 
come from the people of God — many of whom 
(alas ! for us) are not now present, for God has 
taken them to be with Christ. From that time 
to the present, through the many changes that 
have occurred, I have retained the respect, confi- 
dence, and affection of the church. If it be other- 
wise, the concealment has been so perfect as to 
have escaped detection. I have labored to deserve 
all that I have received. 

My predecessors were men of God, true and 
faithful in all their house, as was Moses ; and the 
spirit that met me was a confiding, earnest, prayer- 
ful spirit ; a spirit that longed to see the church 
built up in the faith, and large numbers added to 
the saved. There was a simplicity, a directness 
in the efforts made to accomplish these results, 



28 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHX C. SMITH. 



that cheered my heart, and were an earnest of 
good things. 

I did not come a novice to the church. My 
three years' ministry in Portsmouth, Ya., and 
seven years in Georgetown, had prepared me for 
the work to which the Head of the Church had 
now called me, and on which I entered with no 
timidity or apprehension. I knew God, and Jesus 
Christ whom He had sent. I knew the people 
who had so unanimously called me : and as to the 
future, the Bow of the Covenant was over us. 
God had promised to be the glory in our midst. 
Besides, my manner of life and labor was so 
adapted to those of my predecessors, that it was 
a movement along the same line of operations. 
This is a beautiful fact in the history of the 
church. There has been no diversity of opera- 
tions, and but one spirit in the three Pastors. 

Soon after my removal to the city, I appointed a 
communion season and a series of evening meetings 
in the small room built in the rear of the church 
edifice. I preached every evening till the Sab- 
bath came, and then gave notice of the continu- 
ance of the meetings in the church. They were 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



29 



held there ; nor did we again rise the lecture-room j 
for preaching, except in very inclement evenings, j 
These were very few. God was with us in these 
meetings ; and in less than three months there was \ 
an addition, as appears by the roll of communi- j 
cants, of forty-six new members. These were our 
first fruits, " to the praise and glory of God." 

In these services the Pastor alone was the 
preacher, while the people came up to the help of \ 
the Lord against the mighty. A blessed state of j 
things existed. The congregations increased, the j 
hearts of the people were revived, as was also the j 
purpose of building a new church. The effort j 
was soon commenced in good earnest. On the 1st 
March, 1840, I preached a sermon, "Shall we \ 
build?" from the text, Neh. m 18: "And they j 
said, Let us rise up and build." j 

Two subscriptions of one thousand dollars each 
were made by two elders of the church — one 
of whom, a man of blessed memory, the Master 
called away on 3d May, 1843 : the other is with 
us at this present. Other subscriptions, highly 
honorable to the piety and liberality of our people, 
were made. Friends of the enterprise, because 



so 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



our friends, came in. A building committee was 
appointed, consisting of Col. Michael Nourse, 
Anthony Preston, James W. Shields, Charles F. 
Wood, and George Stettinius. A contract was 
made with John C. Harkness, architect and build- 
er, for a house, 61 feet by 80 ; and on 24th June, 

1840, the corner-stone of this house was laid with 
appropriate and interesting services in the presence 
of a large concourse of people. 

From the beginning the purpose was avowed 
that the house should not be dedicated until it 
was paid for. This was a new thing in Washing- 
ton, excited surprise, and drew forth remarks, 
that such an enterprise should be undertaken at 
all, but especially that the Fourth Church should 
enterprise a house of greater dimensions than any 
other in the city. Some said one thing, some 
another; others said, "Let alone, it cannot be 
done." But the dedication of this commodious, 
eligibly-located house, on Sabbath, 20th June, 

1841, put to silence all gainsayers, and stands a 
monument to-day of the enlarged plans and liber- 
ality of those who projected and executed this 
work. 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



31 



What a day was that dedication ! The people 
came with their Pastor and elders from the home of 
their infancy, to take possession of this house, paid 
for and made meet for their Master's use, to offer 
unto Him this their free gift. On that occasion 
the seats were all filled, and the aisles and the 
pulpit-platform crowded. President Tyler and his 
Cabinet were present. Rev. Edward N. Kirk 
preached the sermon ; the dedication was by the 
Pastor; Rev. John Mines and Rev. William 
McLain also took part. " Thou hast caused men 
to ride over our heads ; Ave went through fire and 
through water, but thou broughtest us out into a 
wealthy place." 

The time and efforts of the Pastor, until now, 
had been directed to raising funds at home and 
abroad to meet the liabilities of the building 
committee, for which he bound himself by moral 
obligations ; consequently he could not be so con- 
stant in labors for the conversion of sinners, and 
the edification of believers. Still the roll has the 
names of thirty-nine more added previous to the 
dedication. Thus while we worked even until the 
stars appeared, God was with us, and blessed the 



82 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



labors of our hands and the services of our hearts 
in the sanctuary. We are in this house, the 
house of the Lord, and our house, around this 
altar, and, by the grace of God, His sons and 
daughters, to show forth the praises of Him who 
has called us out of darkness into His marvellous 
light. 

During my ministry, God has given to us many 
seasons of deep and solemn interest in gracious 
revivals, abundant outpourings of His Holy Spirit. 
The largest accessions at any period were at our 
communion seasons, in 26th February and 30th 
April, 1843, when in two months there were added 
one hundred and four names. " Great is the 
Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our 
God, in the mountain of His holiness." 

Many of those who came with us into this 
house, with the voice of joy and thanksgiving, have 
fallen asleep in Jesus. Their names and memo- 
ries are precious to us. Carefully, and with a 
deep sense of their love for me and the church, 
have I recorded their names, date of admission, 
and the time of their death in this book, " Memo- 
rials of our Departed." I will keep this record 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



33 



of God's grace, and of my love, as the tribute 
which a Pastor may bring. This book shall be 
preserved, and over its pages and their virtues 
will I commune with those who have labored as 
helpers with me in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

During my ministry of sixteen years as your 
Pastor there have been received 678 ; of these 
there have died, 51 ; excommunicated, 40 ; dis- 
missed, to join other churches, 235 ; now in 
communion, 352 ; recorded baptisms — adults, 64 ; 
infants, 400. 

Baptism is administered to adults on their pro- 
fession of faith ; and to children, one or both of 
whose parents are members of the Church of 
Christ. Of such families, now in connexion with 
us, we have the names of one hundred and five, 
while the number of parents is one hundred and 
fifty-one. Of these, now in connexion with us, 
we have the names of two hundred and seventy-six 
baptised infants — some of whom the Great Shep- 
herd has taken to His fold above. During this 
period, though this is not necessarily a part of 
our church history, I have married 286 couples. 

I have been present at and taken an active, not 



34 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



to say a prominent, part in laying the corner-stones 
of seven Presbyterian church edifices in the bounds 
of our Presbytery, to which we, the Pastor, elders, 
and people of this church, have contributed liber- 
ally, and in some cases largely, as well to the 
erection of five more church edifices in our bounds, 
making in all twelve of our denomination. 

I went from house to house and from church 
to church, in Philadelphia, with Rev. Thomas 
J. Shepherd, begging money to erect the three 
houses of worship built during his ministry in 
Maryland. He was a member of this church 
until he entered the ministry. He is now the 
Pastor, efficient and beloved, of the First Pres- 
byterian Church, (N. L.,) Philadelphia, of which 
Rev. James Patterson was for many years the 
Pastor, beloved of God and men. Thus this 
church, which was so blessed in the beginning by 
the labors of that man of God, has furnished to 
them a Pastor after God's own heart. 

In like manner I went to Philadelphia with Rev. 
Randolph A. Smith, and helped him to raise funds 
for Bethesda Church. For like purposes I went 
to Philadelphia, and other strange cities, and 



MINISTRY OP KEV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



85 



raised funds sufficient to pay for the church edifice 
in which Rev. A. G. Carothers ministers, and 
known as 44 The Assembly's Church." Mr. Caro- 
thers was a member of this church until he entered 
the ministry. Of this effort I must be indulged 
to say, that from the inception to the consumma- 
tion, it was one uninterrupted tide of success. We 
collected money faster than the building was put 
up. It flowed in by mail from friends abroad, so 
that we had no anxiety for a moment ; while not 
an unkind feeling or word was known. Rev. Mr. 
Carothers rendered most important aid, was un- 
tiring in the whole effort, giving himself to any 
and every part of the work. He well deserves 
the position which he now so well holds, as Pastor 
of that increasing and important church. 

So also did I labor to raise funds to erect the 
Western Church edifice in this city, and was on 
my way to Lynchburg, when I met with the disas- 
ter on the South Side Railroad, in Virginia, on 
9th November, 1854, which disabled me for a 
season. The effects of the injuries then received 
followed me all the winter ; and on 21st February 
I had a violent concussion of the brain, from a 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



\ fall in the hall of my house, from which I am yet 
I scarcely recovered. God, in great kindness, spared 
j my life until I had paid in full for the lot, obtained 
J the deed, and over five thousand dollars on the 
J building. In these labors, Rev. B. Sunderland, 
\ of this city, shared, and faithful was he in bearing 
\ an equal part of these responsibilities and duties. 

Nor must I fail to make the most honorable men- 
\ tion of the labors of Rev. Charles H. iNourse, in 
| Maryland : self-denying and faithful, indeed, they 

have been. We very materially aided him by our 
I contributions and influence in the erection of the 
| two houses of worship built during his ministry 
\ and under his direction. Mr. Nourse was a mem- 
\ ber of this church until he entered the ministry. 

The three brethren named, with Rev. Levi T. 
) Walker, of New Hampshire, were received bj 
\ this church in my ministry in this city. For 
j them, and all that they have done, we unite in 

praise and thanksgiving unto God. 

This part of my labors — church begging and 
\ building — I consider at an end. Beyond my re- 
i lations and for you, I can undertake nothing 
'. more. Is it not enough ? I make no reference 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHX C. SMITH. 



ST 



to what has been done for churches out of our 
Presbytery. Applications from these have always 
been kindly entertained, and brethren making 
them have always had a hearing before the con- 
gregation. We have, within this week, just 
parted from one to whom we have given some 
help to a struggling church in the far South. 

Not only have we been most liberal with our 
money and in efforts ; not only have we supplied 
churches with the Pastors named, but in the last 
two years we have dismissed of our communicants 
to these new churches fifty-seven persons. With 
all this drain upon us, the congregation keeps up, 
and our numbers seem undiminished. 

Soon after the organization of the church, a 
Sabbath school was begun, and such attention 
given to it as was in the power of the church. 
This school has been regularly kept up through 
these twenty-seven years, and has exerted a good 
influence upon the children and youth in attend- 
ance. In the revivals with which God had so 
graciously blessed us, many of those enrolled as 
scholars have been received into the communion 
of the church. The school was under the super- 



38 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



intendence of Elder D. M. Wilson for twenty 
years or more. He gave to the church and school 
the concentrated energies of his nature, and of 
him it may be written, "steadfast, unmoveable, 
always abounding in the work of the Lord." 

The school has a library of eleven hundred 
and sixty-one volumes, and now consists of two 
hundred and ten children, male and female. It 
is under the superintendence of two of the elders, 
William P. Young and Mitchel H. Miller, with 
other elders and members of the church, in all 
thirty-two teachers, viz : 



Moses Kelly, (elder.) 
David Bassett, (elder.) 
Col. Benj. Shaw, 
Thomas McG-ill, 
Benj. A. Janvier, 
Zebulon W. Denham, 
William Gr. Moore, 
Alex. E. Shepherd, 
D. Crawford, 
Dr. D. McFarlan, 
Alex. D. Moore, 
John C. Cornell, 
S. Merchant, 
Horace J. Frost. 



Miss Mary Ann Renner, 
Elizabeth Walker, 
Louisa M. Barnhill, 
Eliza E. Tweedy, 
Anna JosephaNourse, 
Margaret A. Douglass, 
Anna E. Birge, 
Eliza Schoales, 
Hannah M. Bartlett, 
Isadore A. Middleton, 
Lydia A. Denham, 
Henrietta Farquhar, 
Ann E. Middleton. 



MINISTRY OF EEV. JOHN C. SMITH. 39 



Infant School. — Miss Mary E. Davis, Miss Eliza \ 
Jane De Camp, Miss Mary Ann Creaser. 

Secretary — Lewis Clephane, 
Treasurer — A. R. Parker, 
Librarian — Daniel Douglass, 
Assistant Librarian — John F. Moore, 
" " William N. Wood, 

John H. Bartlett, for many years the Librarian, 
gives his constant attention in assisting at the library- 
M. H. Miller, Second Superintendent, and A. R. Par. 
ker, Treasurer, both have classes. 

We hold to the duty of teaching the children of 
the church and congregation the things of God, 
and here we find the church employed in Sabbath 
labors, co-operating with parents to bring up the 
children in the nurture and admonition of the 
Lord. Faithful and earnest, indeed, are the 
servants of the Lord in this department of labor. 
May they be abundantly blessed. 

Among the important and valuable means em- 
ployed in the accomplishment of great good, we 
must be careful to mention the female free school, 
originated by Mrs. Jacob Gideon, in the spring of 
1836, and continued chiefly through her zealous 
and persevering efforts until January, 1849, when, 



40 MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 

5 

the present system of public schools having been 
introduced into this city, this school was disbanded. 
At first the school was taught in the engine-house 
on 7th street, belonging to the General Post Office 
Department, and continued there till about 1st 
of December, of that year, when it was removed 
to the lecture-room, just finished, of the church. 
In June, 1841, this house was completed, and j 
the back room of the basement well fitted up 
for the school, to which it was transferred, 
and there continued until its work was done. 
Miss Mary TTannail was the first, and her sister, 
Miss Margaret A., the last teacher. During the 
period of thirteen years, a good primary education 
was given, without money and without price, to 
many children, some of whom now are wives and 
mothers in this city, occupying very respectable 
stations in life. In this school, too, was a decidedly 
religious influence. It was carried on by volun- 
tary contributions, obtained from time to time as 
best they could be when most needed. TVe all 
remember the many interesting accounts of need 
and opportune supplies given by Mrs. Gideon in j 
her lifetime. 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



41 



There being no longer any necessity for the 
continuance of the school, the objects were so far 
changed by the ladies associated as to select some 
young man who had the Gospel ministry in view, 
and to aid him in his course. One was found, 
and " The Ladies' Mite Society" have had under 
their care for two or three years a valued young 
brother. They have sustained him through his 
collegiate course, and he is now a member of Lane 
Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and will in 
a year or two be licensed to preach. Mrs. Z. W. 
Denham is the President, and Mrs. George S. 
Gideon the Secretary and Treasurer of this society. 

In 1837, a Juvenile Missionary Society was 
formed, composed of the children and youth of 
the congregation, for the purpose of aiding the 
foreign missionary enterprise by their monthly 
meetings and contributions. That society is, to- 
day, in a most flourishing condition. Its meetings 
have been attended regularly, and without inter- 
ruption. It has altered the name to " Junior 
Foreign Missionary Society of the Fourth Pres- 
byterian Church," and has on its roll the names of 
the younger children ; some parents have entered 



42 



MINISTRY OF RET. JOHN C. SMITH. 



the names of their infants — an example worthy of 
imitation : in this they have the life and the con- 
tributions in the name of the children together. 
The name of the society is indicative of the appro- 
priation of its funds. For several years they have 
been sent to the Nestorian Mission, as the visit of 
Rev. Justin Perkins and "Mar Yohannan" is yet 
remembered with affectionate interest. This soci- 
ety had made a lithograph likeness of the bishop, 
copies of which we often see in our families. Of 
this society, Alexander X). Moore is President ; 
Edwin R. McKean, "Vice-President ; Charles W. 
Franzoni and Lewis Clephane, Secretaries ; Wil- 
liam G. Moore, Treasurer. 

In January, 1842, the ladies of the church, 
among whom Mrs. Charles F. Wood and Mrs. 
Josiah Goodrich were prominent, anxious to do 
something more and more directly for the Great 
West, called a meeting, and formed " The Ladies' 
Home Missionary Society." Desiring to exert an 
influence upon a missionary, and to feel the in- 
fluence of his correspondence and reports upon 
themselves, they preferred to employ some minis- 
ter under that arrangement. One was selected, 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



48 



and for some time this relation was maintained by 
them to the Rev. Cyrus E. Rosenkranz, through 
the American Home Missionary Society. His 
field of labor was in Wisconsin. The ladies were 
unwearied in their work of getting funds, and sup- 
plying their missionary with boxes of wearing 
apparel and other necessaries for his family. This 
arrangement continued until February, 1849, when 
the plan of co-operation with " The Union" for the 
support of Rev. George F. Davis was adopted. 
Of this society, Mrs. William P. Young is Presi- 
dent ; Mrs. Edwin Green, Vice-President ; Miss 
Mary P. Middleton, Secretary ; and Mrs. Zebulon 
W. Denham, Treasurer. 

Besides this, the ladies of the church have re- 
cently formed " The Missionary Sewing Circle," 
which meets once in two weeks, for the purpose 
of making up articles for sale, to increase the 
amount of their funds. The officers are — 

First Directress — Mrs. John C. Smith, 
Second " 11 T^illiam P. Young, 

Third 11 " John W. Thompson, 

Fourth " " Mitchel H. Miller, 

Secretary — Miss Anna E. Birge, 
Treasurer 11 Anna Josepha Nourse. 



4 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



On 18th February, 1849, was formed by the \ 
\ younger members of the church, male and female, { 
I " The Union Home Missionary Society," and at < 
5 once commenced active operations. They began < 
\ to inquire for a suitable man to go to the West j 
'< and preach the Gospel. In this object and plan i 
] " The Ladies' Home Missionary Society" united. \ 
I They became one in this object and the appro- 
\ priation of their funds, but still remain separate, as 
\ before, in their regular monthly meeting, plans, and \ 
\ efforts to raise funds. In September, 1850, after 

a pleasant and profitable visit made them, at their \ 
^ request, by Rev. George F. Davis, a graduate of \ 
\ Lane Theological Seminary, they sent him to the \ 
\ State of Illinois, where he has continued to labor 

as their missionary, and with encouraging sue- \ 
| cess. They have regularly paid him his salary, j 
i He is now settled at " Mount Sterling, Brown ( 
| county, Illinois." 

During the five years' labor of Mr. Davis, he 
) has established five churches, and had erected 
| three substantial houses of worship, for which he 
\ has been furnished with five copies of the Bible, 
| and an appropriate set of communion furniture* 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



45 



The societies have much reason to thank God and 
take courage in the work of their missionary. The 
officers of the Union Home Missionary Society 
are: — William G. Moore, President; Robert S. 
Jordan, Vice-President; Lewis Clephane, John 
H. Bartlett, Secretaries; Thomas McGill, Treas- 
urer. 

The monthly concert is held regularly in the 
session-room, on first Monday in the month, for 
the people of the church. The collections are 
equally divided between the home and the foreign 
cause. Through these channels, and by special 
collections and subscriptions made when the 
general cause or special occasions require, the 
church contributes its share to the extension of 
the Redeemer's kingdom. This monthly concert, 
the church prayer meeting on Tuesday, the preach- 
ing on Thursday, and two female prayer meetings, 
make up the ordinary services of the week. 

For the last eleven years I have kept a " Visiting 
Book," and have visited the families and parts of 
families, communicants and pew-holders, in con- 
nexion with us, three times a year. The sick, the 
dying, the bereaved, have received all those atten- 



MINISTRY Or REV. JOHX C. S3IITH. 



tions which my heart and their circumstances 
have suggested. Besides which, many occasional 
visits have been made every month, as the case 
of the congregation has required. I have com- 
pared my book of 1845 with my book of the 
present year ; and taking an average from these 
two years, I have made in these eleven years at 
least thirteen thousand five hundred visits ; and 
in the same proportion for the sixteen years of 

< my pastorate, not less than nineteen or twenty 
thousand visits to and for the people of this con- 
gregation : most of them on foot, in this city of 
magnificent distances. Xo Presbyterian minister 

| in Washington owns either carriage or horse. 

I have kept no record of funerals beyond those 
of my communicants. It is quite remarkable that 

; I have officiated in every case of death of our 
members except two aged females, which occurred 
when I was necessarily absent from the city. This 

| fact, worthy of note, is explained in another, which 
is, that I am seldom from home. Even in the 

I 

; heat of summer I allow myself a respite of only 
two Sabbaths, and some seasons do not take that. 
I have been able to keep up and meet my 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



47 



engagements quite as well as most men whose 
health is far better than mine. I always preach 
three times a week, unless some brother is provi- 
dentially with me. In seasons of revivals, of 
which we have had many and precious, I have 
continuously, for weeks, and in one season for 
months, preached five, six, and seven times in the 
week. 

I have never, during my ministry, preached the 
same sermon, or from the same preparation, twice 
to the same people or in the same church. Con- 
sequently the amount of labor in this direction 
can be estimated. I always write more or less 
for the Sabbath, as also for the Thursday evening 
service. 

I take occasion here to say, that I have joy- 
fully given to this church, to this city, and to the 
Presbytery of the District of Columbia, that 
which I can give never again. Freely have I 
given, and I rejoice that the Master has permitted 
me to spend and be spent in His service in this 
Metropolis. All His gifts of mind and heart 
have I consecrated to God, and offered upon this 
altar and for your service. Poor though the 



48 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



offering be, it has come a sweet savor before. God, 
and I bless Him that you reap the fruits. So I 
would have it. What of life remains to me shall 
be no less devoted to you and yours, whose servant 
I am for Christ's sake. 

The results furnished in this discourse are made 
for the glory of our Covenant God, to whom we 
now and forever will ascribe all the praise. 

During the life of this church there have been 
in all fourteen ruling elders. Six of these re- 
main: Jacob Gideon, ordained Tth April, 1834; 
William P. Young, received 25th December, 1841 ; 
Dr. James M. Wilson, Mitchel H. Miller, Moses 
Kelly, and David Bassett, ordained 27th Novem- 
ber, 1853. Three have died: Anthony Preston, 
ordained Tth April, 1834, died 3d May, 1843; 
Peter W. Gallaudet, ordained, per record, 7th 
March, 1830, died 16th May, 1843 ; John Voor- 
hees, received 26th October, 1844, died 28th Octo- 
ber, 1849. Five have been dismissed to other 
churches : David M. Wilson, Colonel Michael 
Nourse, Dr. Alexander Speer, William Anderson, 
and Lewis H. Machen. 



MINISTRY OF KEY. JOHN C. SMITH. 



49 



There have been in all forty persons elected 
trustees. Their names are as follows : 



Arthur J. Stansbury, 
Jacob Gideon, jr., 
Anthony Preston, 
Jona. Phillips, 
John R. Nourse, 
Patrick Crowley, 
Michael Larner, 
Zebulon W. Denham, 
William Dougherty, 
Robert Tweedy, 
James M. Brown, 
Benj. F. Pleasants, 
Wm. H. Head, 
Howard Stansbury, 
Edward Deeble, 
G-eorge Stettinius, 
Charles F. Wood, 
Lansing Tooker, 
Jacob B. Wingerd, 
James W. Shields, 



Michael Hoover, 
Simeon Bassett, 
William Pilling, 
Wm. Stettinius, 
Benj. L. Bogan, 
Charles P. Wannall, 
Alexr. Shepherd, 
Charles H. Nourse, 
George S. Gideon, 
Sylvanus Holmes, 
John Y. Bryant, 
John G. Kobinson, 
James W. Moorhead, 
Mitchel H. Miller, 
Moses Kelly, 
Wm. C. Greenleaf, 
Wm. P. Shedd, 
John H. Bartlett, 
Benj. A. Janvier, 
John W- Thompson. 



The election for whom is annual. Several of them 
have been continued for years by re-election. The 
present Board, elected last February, consists of 
Benjamin A. Janvier, President ; John H. Bart- 
lett, Secretary ; Zebulon W. Denham, Treasurer ; 
William P. Shedd, and John W. Thompson. 



•30 



MINISTRY OF EEY. JOHN C. SMITH. 



This twenty-seventh anniversary of the organi- 
zation presents, as the operations of the past, 
total number of communicants, 1,015 ; of these 
there have been — deaths, 103 ; excommunications, 
89 ; dismissions, 397 ; now in communion, 426. 
Recorded baptisms, 603 ; preachers, who were 
members of the church, 8; families and parts of 
families in connexion with the congregation, 
and whom I visit "by the book" thrice a year, 
203 ; parents now in communion who have had 
infants baptised in the past sixteen years, in one 
hundred and five families, 150 ; children of these, 
276. 

Let us now look at two or three facts in this 
history, as deserving a passing notice. 

1st. The name of the church at the first was 
called "The Central Presbyterian;" but when 
the petition was presented to Presbytery, and 
acted on, it was enrolled " The Fourth Presbyte- 
rian," at their own request, so that the change 
was agreeable all round. 

2d. My ministerial life began with the life of 
this church, to which I have so cheerfully devoted 
my energies. I landed in Norfolk, Va., on 18th 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



§1 



October, 1828, a licentiate of a few weeks, to 
enter upon labors as a preaclier at Fortress Mon- 
roe, known as Old Point Comfort. The first 
meeting held for the organization of this church, 
as we have seen, was 29th of the same month. In 
the March following, my elder came up to Wash- 
ington, to attend the inauguration of General 
Jackson. When he returned, he told me of the 
wonderful things God was doing for the people in 
a new church. My heart praised Him ; and from 
that time my interest was excited. How little 
then I thought that with that church my life 
should be so closely identified. Surely He leads 
us by paths that we knew not of. 

3d. The building of our two houses of worship 
promoted the interests of landholders in this sec- 
tion of the city more than anything that had 
previously been done. When "the little white" 
was built across the street, this part was almost a 
wilderness to the north, and might be called a land 
of marshes and gullies. Those who were here 
then, and are here now, speak of "the slashes" all 
round above I street. Nor can we forget the 
rapid improvements made since the corner-stone 



52 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



of this spacious house of worship was laid. We 
have but to look at the square as it now is to 
ascertain what it was in 1840. Even to-day it is 
the receptacle of every kind of rubbish that any 
one may choose to throw in. 

We hold that the building of church edifices is 
the most direct means of improvement a city can 
have, and in this respect we have done not a little. 
The lot on which " The Assembly's Church" 
stands was a donation from Silas H. Hill and 
Joseph B. Varnura, Esqs., which we have grate- 
fully acknowledged. 

I am indebted to John Sessford, Esq., for the 
following statement, the accuracy of which none 
will question when the name of that venerable 
man is mentioned. From 1828 to 1889 there 
were built five churches ; from 1840, when the 
corner-stone of this house was laid, to this present, 
1855, there have been built twenty-seven. 

These facts speak for themselves. That a 
church could be built like this and paid for by a 
small congregation, was indeed a new thing, and 
required strong faith and high courage. Since 
then, encouraged by our example in fifteen years, 



MINISTRY OP REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



53 



there have been built twenty-seven, and many of 
them in this very part which, on 1st March, 1829, 
the day of dedication of "the little white," was 
a wild, neglected region. 

These remarks are minor, indeed, compared 
with those which this history of God's grace sug- 
gests. Let us consider — 

1st. The divine faithfulness in the fulfilment 
of the promises contained in our text. Has He 
not literally done all that He has spoken, and 
much more abundantly, to the praise of His own 
great name ? He had a glorious purpose to ac- 
complish, and in His infinite wisdom employed 
the little band. They gave themselves to the 
work, and labored on in faith and hope ; and lo ! 
the mustard seed has become a great tree. Over 
all this history every hand is ready to write and 
every heart to express — 

"Here I raise my Ebenezer; 
Hither by thy help I'm come !" 

2. The remarkable providence of God in pre- 
serving so many of the early valued members of 
the church to see this house built, a large con- 
gregation gathered, and the glory divine fill the 



54 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



place in many seasons. Sweet was their song, 
and joyful their spirit, with ours, as we have sung 
praises with angels, over repentant sinners. When 
the Master took them, we did not see how we could 
do without them; their places have not yet been 
filled. But good is the Lord, and great His loving 
kindness that He continued them here so long. 
We'll praise Him for all that is past, and trust 
Him for all that is to come. 

3. The spirit of the early members should 
be maintained and perpetuated. They lived 
for constant accessions to the church. They 
made this their business, one great object of 
their calling. They addressed themselves per- 
sonally to the impenitent, and went from fam- 
ily to family to converse with, and pray for, 
those living without God and without hope in 
the world. They never sought to disturb exist- 
ing relations to churches. In this sense, the 
mean spirit of proselytism had no place with 
them. Their object was to bring men into the 
kingdom of God, and not effect a transfer of re- 
lations. This spirit has been maintained. We 
have not gone into other folds to induce sheep to 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



55 



follow us. A sense of honor, if nothing higher, 
has saved us from this ungenerous course. Where 
others have come to us with certificates of dismis- 
sion, we have received them in the fear of God, 
given to them our confidence, and have gladly 
labored with them in the Gospel. Of such, we 
have one name, "Alexander Shepherd," recorded 
in " Memorials of our Departed," which is still 
as ointment poured forth. 

4. Our best monument to their memory is to 
review and practise their self-denial, diligence, 
and zeal. Important trusts have been commit- 
ted to our hands, over which our hearts should 
constantly feel. With the strength which we have 
at this time, we may accomplish great things, if we 
only shall attempt and expect them. Let us be- 
ware, my brethren, of that spirit which rejoices in 
the past, and forgets those who bore the heat and 
burden of the day. Some of these remain to this 
present. Let us cherish them as a son does a 
father, or a daughter a mother. 

The Bible declares that " the hoary head is a 
crown of glory, if it be found in the way of right- 
eousness," and commands, "thou shalt rise up be- 



56 



MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN C. SMITH. 



fore the hoary head, and honor the face of the old 
man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord." Let us 
derive instruction from their efforts in the trying 
hour, and learn from them how to do, and to suffer, 
and thus help to make their evening time light in 
the Lord. 

5. Let us address ourselves to our responsibilities 
and duties, assured that God will give more grace; 
and as our day is, so our strength shall be. We 
have in this church a commanding position. Our 
past is full of brightness and peace. Our future 
is with ourselves, and it behooves every one of us 
this day to decide what that future shall be. 

" The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble ; the 
name of the God of Jacob defend thee. Send 
thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee 
out of Zion. Remember all thy offerings, and 
accept thy burnt sacrifice : Selah ! Grant thee 
according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy 
counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in 
the name of our God we will set up our banners." 



APPENDIX. 



CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE FOURTH PRESBY- 
TERIAN CHURCH, WASHINGTON. 

We believe that there is one God, self-existent, 
eternal, infinitely perfect and glorious; unchangeable 
in His being and perfections \ the Creator of all things, 
and the Sovereign of the Universe : 

That this one God subsists in a manner mysterious 
to us as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons 
in one God: 

That the book called the Holy Scriptures is given 
by inspiration, and is the only infallible rule of faith 
and practice : 

That God created our first parents in his own im- 
age, perfectly holy and happy; that they voluntarily 
sinned, and that by them sin entered into the world, 
and death by sin ; and so death passed upon all men, 
for that all have sinned : 

That God, of His sovereign grace, has devised a 
scheme of redemption, by which the exercise of mercy 
is made consistent with the maintenance of justice, 
and with the honor of His government : 

That the Son of God became incarnate, obeyed, 
suffered, and died upon, the cross, thus making a true 
and proper atonement for sin, infinite in value, be- 
cause He who made it, is, was, and ever shall be 
divine. That He rose from the dead, ascended to 
heaven, and sat on the right hand of God; that He 
ever liveth to make intercession for His people, and 
will come the second time without sin unto salvation : 

That all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ, as He 
is offered in the gospel, truly believing in, and cor- 
dially loving Him, are pardoned and accepted for the 



58 



APPENDIX. 



sake of His righteousness, imputed to them and re- 
ceived by faith alone : 

That all such who believe, having within their 
souls the principle of eternal life, are kept according 
to the promise, and by the power of God, through 
faith, unto salvation, the work of sanctification being 
completed in death. That God, in a free, self-moved, 
and sovereign manner, bestows grace on men, having 
mercy on whom He will have mercy : 

That Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances 
in the Church of Christ, appointed by Himself: 

That it is the office of the Holy Ghost, the third 
person in the adorable Trinity, to. convince of sin, to 
renew and sanctify the soul, and by the enlarged 
effusion of His holy influences to produce revivals of 
religion : 

That there is appointed a day of judgment, un- 
known to angels and to men, but known to G-od, 
when Jesus Christ, having raised the dead, will pro- 
nounce righteous judgment on all, welcoming His 
friends and followers, redeemed by his blood, to His 
kingdom and glory, and dooming the wicked to ever- 
lasting fire. 



COVENANT. 

And now, in the presence of God, His holy angels, 
and this assembly, you do. solemnly avouch the Lord 
Jehovah to be your God — the Lord Jesus Christ to be 
your Saviour from sin and death, yonr prophet to in- 
struct you, your priest to atone and intercede for you, 
and your king to rule and protect you and to subdue 
your enemies; the Holy Ghost to be your sanctifler, 
comforter, and guide. 

To this Jehovah — Father, Son and Holy Ghost — 



appendix. 



you do now, ivithout reserve, give yourselves away in \ 
a covenant never to be revoked, to serve Him forever, 
to observe and do all His commandments in the sane- j 
tuary, the family, and the closet. You do also bind 
yourselves by covenant to this church, to watch over 
us in the Lord, to seek our peace and edification, and < 
to submit to ike government and discipline of Christ, 
as here administered ? J 
This you severally profess and engage. 
[The ordinance of baptism, if not previously re- 
ceived, will here be administered.] 

In consequence of these professions and promises, 
we affectionately receive you as members of this 
church, and in the name of Christ declare you en- j 
titled to all its visible privileges. On our part we 
engage to watch over you and seek your edification 
as long as you shall continue among us. Should 
you have occasion to remove, it will be your duty to 
seek, and ours to grant, a recommendation to another 
church, for hereafter you cannot loithdraw from the 
watch and communion of the saints without a breach 
of covenant. '{ 

And now, beloved in the Lord, remember that you 
have entered into solemn relations, which you can £ 
never renounce and from which you can never escape. 
Wherever you are, these vows will remain. They 
will follow you to the bar of God, and in whatever 
I world you may be fixed, will abide on you for eternity, j 
j Hereafter the eyes of the world will be upon you, 
\ and as you conduct yourselves, so religion will be 
\ honored or disgraced. If you walk worthy of your 
\ profession, you will be a credit and a comfort to us, 
but if it be otherwise, you will be to us a grief of \ 
heart and a vexation. And if there be a wo pro- 
\ nounced on him who offends one of Christ's little 
I ones, wo ! wo to the person who offends a whole 



60 



APPENDIX. 



church. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things 
of you, and things which accompany salvation, though 
we thus speak. 

May your covenant God guide you by His coun- 
sels, guard you by His grace, give you support in 
trials, grant you triumph in death, and finally an 
abundant entrance into His everlasting kingdom, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 



